Mudavadi faults bid to scrap National Land Commission

Monday March 14 2016

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, who has accused the government of clawing back gains in the land sector through the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill, which he says is intended to scrap the National Land Commission. PHOTO | ROBERT NGUGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

He said the Bill would return powers to allocate land in the country to the President through the CS.

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has accused the government of clawing back gains in the land sector through a Bill intended to scrap the National Land Commission.

He said the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill that is being debated in the National Assembly seeks to replace the independent NLC with a Cabinet secretary, which will return powers to allocate land in the country to the President through the CS.

Mr Mudavadi, who is on a vote-hunting mission in northeastern Kenya, also told a public rally in Garissa that the planned changes in the land sector are part of a scheme to undermine devolution.

He also accused MPs of planning to recreate a centralised state and short-change counties.

“I condemn this Bill as unconstitutional.

“The Constitution gives the NLC independence and power over allocation of public land, but Jubilee wants to substitute this constitutional authority of the NLC with a Cabinet secretary,” Mr Mudavadi said.